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Beverly — Mr. Robert J. Tate, 88, beloved husband of the late Shirley (Merrill) Tate, died Monday, September 24, at Essex Park Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Beverly.
Born in Drumaness, County Down, Northern Ireland, he was the son of the late Robert and Louisa (Lowry) Tate. He immigrated to the United States at the age of seven, settling in Beverly where he has since resided.
An honorably discharged veteran, he served his country during World War II as a member of the United States Army.
Mr. Tate had been employed for 30 years as a pattern making and cabinet making teacher at the Claude H. Patton Trade High School in Beverly until the time of his retirement in 1985. Following his retirement, he worked as a school bus driver and crossing guard for the Beverly School System.
Mr. Tate was a member of the Danvers Fish and Game Club. He enjoyed listening to country music and Irish music, playing darts and working in his “workshop” in his basement. Most of all, he enjoyed spending summers with his family at Lakeside Pines Campgrounds on Long Lake in Maine.
He is survived by his daughter, Sandy Bradley and her husband, Bill, of Beverly; two sons, Robert J. Tate Jr. and his wife, Elke, of Portland, Maine, and Thomas Tate of Beverly; seven grandchildren, Emily Tate of Freeport, Maine, Ryan Tate of Boca Raton, Fla., Jennifer Tate, Erin Heckman and her husband John, Corey Bradley and her fiancé, Tom Kennedy, all of Beverly, Christopher Montoni and Melissa Montoni, both of Peabody, two great-grandchildren, Kyle and Ella Heckman; a son-in-law, Philip Montoni of Peabody; several nieces and nephews, including Laureen Lefavour and her husband, Barry, Henry Genthner III and his wife, Ann and Melissa Spiridigliozzi and her husband, David, all of Beverly. He was also the father of the late Nancy Montoni and Joseph L. Tate and grandfather of the late Benjamin T. Bradley.
ARRANGEMENTS: Visiting hours will be held at the Campbell–Lee, Moody, Russell Funeral Home, 525 Cabot Street, Beverly (North Beverly location), Friday, September 28, from 4 to 6 p.m., followed by a funeral service at 6 p.m. at the funeral home to which relatives and friends are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Robert’s memory to Benjamin T. Bradley Foundation, 3 Dyer Rd., Beverly, MA 01915. Information, directions and condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com.
